Slowly but surely, Jamie McMurray has realized his victory in last Sunday’s Daytona 500 wasn’t a dream.  It’s real, and he’s enjoying every minute of it.  More than six hours after the start of the Daytona 500, McMurray joyfully hoisted the famed Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway.  McMurray endured lengthy delays for potholes that surfaced on the track, survived a crash-filled affair in the closing laps and held off a hard-charging Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap.

Last year, McMurray didn’t know for whom he would drive in 2010 after his Roush Fenway Racing No.26 team folded tent at the end of the season.  He landed a ride with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in the No.1 car shortly after, and what a debut he made with the team.

With his second-place run, Earnhardt Jr. was the highest finisher among the four Hendrick drivers.  Earnhardt Jr., hoping to snap a 57-race winless streak, charged from 10th on the final two-lap overtime restart to second on the last lap, but McMurray held him off by 0.12 seconds.  California has not been one of Earnhardt Jr.’s best tracks, based on his previous performances there.  ”I don’t like going out west, but it’s much easier to go there after you run good somewhere else,” Earnhardt Jr. said.  Earnhardt Jr. has finished 25th or worse in three of the last four races at California.

McMurray celebrates his Daytona 500 victory with several obligations in Los Angeles this week previous to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Yesterday, Kovalainen completed 30 laps prior to the accident where his front wing broke and forced him to leave the circuit, because there was no spare part to replace it.  However, he was not distressed and even though he admitted the single-seater lacks aerodynamics, he assured that the T127 has great potential.

“I think the potential is there.  The initial sensation this morning was good,” explained Kovalainen.  “With enough grip in the slow curves, the car is behaving quite well.  But it does lack adherence in high speeds [curves] where we lose time, probably too, because of configuration issues [set-up].  But, overall it is alright and I enjoyed it very much.”

After running for McLaren since 2008, Kovalainen has great experience in races with the Formula One champion team and is used to utilizing Mercedes engines – considered as the best in the grid.

When asked to compare the Lotus’ V8 Cosworth with Mercedes’ engine, he said: “In terms of sheer power, it is not very far from Mercedes’, although it is probably not as good, but on the whole, the sensation is quite positive.  The ease with which you drive it was very competitive when compared with Mercedes.  The power is located at different areas, but I feel it is one of the strongest parts of the car.”

Kovalainen has remained in Jerez to test his car today, Friday.  The new front wing was delivered last nigh to the racing team.

With a completely dry Jerez circuit, all the cars are now unveiling in dry.  However, during the morning, the times started to drop.  Button, Alonso and Webber are competing to clock the fastest lap.  McLaren is currently leading at the top of the timesheet with 1:20.394 – a second faster than the best time we have seen in Jerez up to now.

A mechanical failure of Webber, just after 12:00 PM, affected the Red Bull program and caused the red flag of the fifth day.  On the other hand, Di Grassi did not arrive to the party on time, because by the beginning of the morning he had not finished a complete lap and is again 11 seconds behind the best time.  Lotus is the only racing team that has not timed to this moment, but hopes its gearbox problem is solved and his pilot is determined to take the track this evening.

Williams has begun its box stop testing, and reports point out that Hulkenberg will do a simulation race this evening if the sky remains so clear.

Everything is trouble-free with Mercedes:  Schumacher arrived late to the circuit, and ran few laps.  At lunch time, Toro Rosso had completed most of the laps (64) while Kobayashi in the Sauber the least (6).  This is contrary to the announcement made that said that the racing team was waiting for good weather to run many miles.

MORNING TIMES
.1. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1:20.394 (50 laps)
.2. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1:21.684 (46)
.3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1:21.771 (72)
.4. Robert Kubica (Renault) 1:21.915 (49)
.5. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP) 1:21.919 (37)
.6. Adrian Sutil (Force Inidia) 1:21.985 (39)
.7. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) 1:22.973 (64)
.8. Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) 1:23.634 (77)
.9. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) 1:25.818 (6)
10. Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) 1:26.327 (20)
11. Lucas di Grassi (Virgin) 1:31.670 (22)

In the evening, Ferrari has hurried to clarify that the F10 problems had nothing to do with the new chassis that Felipe Massa unveiled yesterday.  As a matter of fact, they declared it was time to prepare for Bahrain, making clear that the initial tests were surmounted.

After Massa slid off the track, Vettel improved his time (1:28.162), leaving Red Bull in the third position of the timesheet.  After that lap, the red flag stopped everything; the marshals had to clean the racetrack a bit because when Massa slid off his car, the racetrack received some gravel.

A severe rain showered the racetrack again, with strong winds of 50km/h. which enjoyed the passing by of the single-seaters through the Jerez de la Frontera single-seaters.  Timo Glock did not let the command go as had been rumored and he rolled during the evening, which Lotus could not do, after Kovalainen’s incident where the front wing of the single-seater was destroyed.

Again, under the rain, Barrichello’s Williams was the one that ran more and better in the curvy racetrack of Jerez.  Meanwhile, Buemi, Hamilton, Pretrov and Glock went out to the circuit to take advantage of the last minutes of the day.

Nonetheless, they were not lucky, because again, there was a severe rainstorm that made it impossible to roll at too much rhythm.  So much so that Glock’s Virgin stopped at the first curve, finishing his session before the time.

Another day marked by the rain that altered the programmed unveiling plans and the single-seaters evolution.  Forecast are not better for tomorrow.

Thursday’s Final Times in Jerez

1. Barrichello 1:271.45 (74 lap)
2. Petrov 1:27.828 (34 lap)
3. Vettel 1:28.162 (49 lap)
4. Massa 1:28.879 (46 lap)
5. Rosberg 1:28.964 (41 lap)
6. De la Rosa 1:29.691 (8 lap)
7. Di resta 1:30.344 (33 lap)
8. Glock 1:31.557 (41 lap)
9. Hamilton 1:31.692 (44 lap)
10. Buemi 1:32.678 (43 lap)
11. Kovalainen 1:33.554 (30 lap)

Daimler’s President, Dieter Zetsche, has warned that for Mercedes F1 racing team to continue in Formula One, it must pay its participation by winning races, and thus helping its headquarter company.

Mercedes, together with Aabar stockholders, took charge of Brawn at the end of last year, satisfying the long cherished dream of becoming a Formula One constructor.  The manufacturer chose the seven-times champion, Michael Schumacher for the project, who will partner with Nico Rosberg to win the championship in his first comeback year.

However, Zetsche reveled in an interview that, “winning is the project’s “condition,” and he also warned that if there are “clear signs” that Daimler’s money could be better invested in some place else than Formula One, “a new decision will have to be taken.”

“The fact that Aabar is beside us as an investor, not only shows that we are allocating our risk, but it is a sign that the Formula One racing team has to pay itself;” added Zetsche.

Today, Thursday, the unveilings have restarted with rain after yesterday’s unpredictable day.  A of 10 AM, rainstorm limited the unveilings at Jerez; none could complete 30 laps.  A little while after 11 AM, the severe storm caused stagnant water in the racetrack generating a red flag.

As a result, times are even more diverse than yesterday’s, with Felipe Massa leading the timesheet previous to the rainfall.  The only team that made a remarkable progress was Virgin, with Timo Glock driving up to 26 wet laps.

On its part, Lotus, seems to have stepped backwards and no time has been registered up to now.  For a few moments, at the Lotus box, fire was seen coming out from under the engine’s cover, but the team has not yet announced the reason.

Renault has not established a lap time neither at the beginning of the session.  Vitaly Petrov continues his second consecutive testing day under the rain.

The teams gathered again on a wet racetrack on the second testing day and more precipitation is expected for tomorrow.  The programs were fractured yesterday by two severe rainstorms and five red flags, and it seems that today is not going to be different.

Felipe Massa went directly to the top part of the timesheet with a time of 1:28.879 at the beginning of his second successive testing day.  The only teams that changed their UPS line were Mercedes, with Nico Rosberg behind the steering wheel, and Lotus, that made the first test with Heikki Kovalainen with the el T127.  Paul di Resta continues in Force India, but it is expected that in any moment, he will be substituted by Tonio Liuzzi.  Lucas di Grassi, today will share his single-seater ,Virgin with Timo Glock.

Just before a break for lunch, the racetrack began to improve and that allowed some time modifications.  Barrichello placed himself first at one thirty with a best time of 1:28.499 in a rather long session (he remained in the track for 20 minutes straight.) Hamilton clocked his best personal time of the day with 1:31.833, but very far from the morning’s best times.  Afterwards, the Brazilian in his Williams stopped the chronometer in 1:27.145, using all the fuel.

Right now, Petrov with his Renault went back to the racetrack and placed himself second with 1:27.891.  The track is drying, although there are still some pools.  Ferrari has not explained its long stop at the boxes.  It has been rumored that it had an electrical problem.  At the end of the morning session, only the Russian pilot, Petrov and Barrichello have dropped off from 1:28.9.

In what is the second week of testing at the at Jerez circuit, Sebastian Vettel completed the fastest lap in 1 minute, 19.055 seconds in his Red Bull, to finish nearly 1.3 seconds quicker than Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.

With intermitent showers,Toyota test driver Kumui Kobayashi was third fastest, while Nico Rosberg of Williams and MMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica made the the top-five.

Giancarlo Fisichella who is going into his 14th season, set a best lap of 1:21.584 for Force India, and declared: “It’s very promising and I felt much more consistency, even under braking, and more stability in the high speed corners. We are not that far away from the other people so I am looking forward to tomorrow and another day with more laps where we can try to improve the car a little bit and concentrate on reliability.”

McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa and Nelson Piquet Jr. of Renault completed the field. Toro Rosso and Honda were the only F1 teams not present at the track in southern Spain.

Michael Schumacher led the way in the opening hour of Wednesday’s Jerez test as two red flag situations kept running to a minimum.

Overcast skies and a damp track greeted the drivers on the first morning of this week’s four-day Jerez test.

Felipe Massa was the first to venture out, followed by Fairuz Fauzy, who was given the honour of getting behind the wheel of the new Lotus T127 in its first official test.

Following a brief break after the installation laps, which were completed by all the teams excluding Virgin Racing within the first 20 minutes, Fauzy hit the track again to put in his first timed lap.

The Lotus test driver clocked a 1:46.652 in his brief two-lap run. However, the team had no complaints.

“Fairuz just did a couple of laps on a wet track with no problems, he’s in now for some adjustments,” Lotus reported on Twitter.

The Malaysian driver’s time, though, was over 16s off the lead time set by Michael Schumacher.

While his rivals were lapping in the 1:33s to start with, Schumacher’s first flying lap of the day was a 1:30.549.

It wasn’t a good start to the test for Lewis Hamilton and McLaren as the Brit brought out the red flags when he stopped out on track.

After a 16 minute hold-up the session was resumed only to be stopped four minutes later as Paul di Resta spun his Force India.

Schumacher therefore ended the opening hour in the P1 slot with Pedro de la Rosa 0.214s behind and Felipe Massa in third place.

The IZOD IndyCar Series season opens March 14th with its first race on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America, while the initial race for Firestone Indy Lights is March 28 at St. Petersburg, Fla., street circuit.

Now, prior to this, the Barber Motorsports Park Open Test, is scheduled for February 24-26, and will be the only Open Test conducted prior to the start of the 2010 season.  It marks the second-straight season that both IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams will conduct an Open Test at the scenic Alabama road course.

Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for the Indy Racing League  said: “the way the 2010 schedule falls allowed for the opportunity for our teams to focus their preseason plans on the road and street course events to open the season.”  “By shifting the oval testing portion to in-season Open Test dates, teams have the option of keeping their equipment in road-course trim until they are ready to focus on the oval portion of the schedule, including the month of May at Indianapolis.”

The first four races for IZOD IndyCar Series and first three Firestone Indy Lights races will be contested on road/street courses, including the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 11 at the 2.38-mile road course in Birmingham, Ala.

The Open test at Barber Motorsports Park will be the third time the IZOD IndyCar Series has held an Open test in Alabama.  Seven drivers tested at the facility in October 2007 and both series hosted their preseason road course Open Test at the track last March.

Gene Hallman, President of Zoom Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park, declared: “We are honored to have the Indy Racing League in Birmingham for the Open Test, which will be a prelude to the inaugural event in April.”.  “The Open Test will allow the drivers additional experience on the finest road course in North America.”

On May 4^th, an in-season oval testing day for IZOD IndyCar Series teams is scheduled for the 1.5-mile oval at Kentucky Speedway, while on May 3rd, Firestone Indy Lights rookies will join IZOD IndyCar Series teams for their rookie oval orientation program at Kentucky Speedway.

IZOD IndyCar Series teams are allowed up to six private testing days and a minimum of 800 miles testing depending on the number of full-time cars fielded by the team, in addition to the three Open Test dates. Teams can earn an additional 300 bonus testing miles by testing a Firestone Indy Lights driver at least 600 miles for a maximum of three private test days.

Jamie McMurray is somewhat digesting Sunday’s Daytona 500 victory with the help of the great number of interviews he has given.

But the signs of appreciation must soon give way to the task of adding to it, particularly running well on the intermediate-length tracks that make up the bulk of the Sprint Cup schedule.  Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway (2-mile track) in Fontana, Calif., begins a three-race run at 1.5- to 2-mile tracks, and McMurray aims to add to his breakthrough 2002 win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

With experience from Dodge and Ford, he’ll copy the Chevrolet setup used by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who mostly ran well on those tracks last year in making the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Most of McMurray’s success at Auto Club came in his first stint with Ganassi with four top-10s in five starts; 13 starts have resulted in an average finish of 16.4.

“It will be important to run well this weekend,” he said during a teleconference. “That’s honestly a really good track for me. I haven’t been in one of their cars on a mile-and-a-half.

“I expect to get to Fontana, be able to unload with the setup that Juan ran last year and be really close.  Juan Pablo Montoya ran great there last year (11th and third).”

In order to strengthen the Lotus Racing management group, this Friday was announced the appointment of two stakeholders who will be part of the team. They are S M Nasarudin Kandmarudin Meranun.  Together with the principal, Tony Fernándes the three will be in charge of Lotus Racing.
S M Nasarudin, one of the two stakeholders of Lotus-Cosworth explained: “We turned into reality a simple Malaysian dream, thanks to the passion we put into it, the hard work and the team’s spirit.  As in the case of all the other challenges we have had to get where we  are now, we approached these challenges as a team, and how, we are determined than ever to finish what we started.  We are realistic regarding our goals, but in no way we think that things will be easy from here forward, but our faith is still there.
On his part, Kamarudin Meranun, the other new Lotus-Cosworth stakeholder said: “We still have a long way to go and we do not know what the future might bring, but we are in the way and we have to do the best possible.  We made a great product in a very short period of time and in one of car racing’s most competitive platforms in the world.  Honestly, I think we have the motivation, decision and most importantly than anything else, the passion to take this project to the end, with God’s will.”

Finally, Tony Fernándes, Lotus-Cosworth’s team principal declared: “Our goals and objectives are clear, but as mentioned earlier, we have hard work ahead of us.  There are 19 races and with the mutual help of the three (principal and stakeholders), we thing that management has all the necessary resources to lead the team.”

With a last-lap pass of superspeedway ace Todd Bodine, Timothy Peters won Saturday, February 13^th night’s NextEra Energy 250 Truck Series race at 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

With a push from polesitter Jason White passed Bodine on the backstretch and won the race to the finish line. Bodine, who had won the previous two season openers at Daytona, crossed the stripe in second place but spun into the infield grass after taking the checkered flag.

“I can’t believe it — this thing drove like a Lexus tonight,” Peters said of his No. 17 Toyota Tundra. “We just won Daytona! I was just content where I was at, but the No. 23 [White] came up and gave me a great run.

“I can’t believe it — I’m going to Disney World!”

Peters’ only previous win in the series came at .526-mile Martinsville Speedway.

Dennis Setzer, White and Matt Crafton rounded out the top five, as Bodine took solace from his second-place run — magnified by wrecks that ruined the nights of defending series champion Ron Hornaday and Mike Skinner, perennial contenders for the Truck Series title.

“You’re a sitting duck leading,” Bodine said ruefully. “I saw the replay when I was sitting down there in the mud [after spinning]. Timmy did what he had to do.

“We’re disappointed. There’s no doubt about it. But second’s nothing to sneeze at.”

Two separate crashes on the pace laps — before the race had started — promised an action-filled evening, and, indeed, before the race was a lap old, Aric Almirola took the field three-wide in Turn 3. Austin Dillon, making his first superspeedway start, broke loose between trucks and ignited a nine-truck collision that damaged the trucks of Kyle Busch and Landon Cassill, among others.

“I really don’t know what was happening,” Dillon said after exiting the infield care center. “I was sucking up to Jason White and someone got under me. Just looked like they weren’t being very patient there to start. Just caught in the middle and got banged around there a few times and tried to save it — just nothing I could do there.”

Hornaday was the victim of a 10-truck wreck after a bump from Ricky Carmichael turned him into the outside wall at the end of the backstretch on Lap 32. The same wreck ruined the winning chances of front-row starter Elliot Sadler. Skinner’s race ended early after a tap from Peters launched him into the Turn 3 wall on Lap 62

Summary of the results: 1 Timothy Peters (Toyota); 2 Todd Bodine (Toyota); 3 Dennis Setzer (Dodge); 4 Jason White (Ford); 5 Matt Crafton (Chevrolet); 6 Nelson Piquet Jr. (Toyota); 7 Stacy Compton (Toyota); 8 Johnny Benson (Ford); 9 Donnie Neuenberger (Chevrolet); 10 J.J. Yeley (Chevrolet).

After a late night of celebrating their coveted victory in “The Great American Race”, yesterday, Jamie McMurray and his team handed over their No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet to be inducted into the attraction’s Gatorade Victory Lane. The winning car will be on display until next February when it will be returned to the team prior to the 53rd annual Daytona 500.

Winning the most prestigious race on the NASCAR circuit finally started to sink in Monday morning for 2010 Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray, who celebrated with his Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team during the Daytona 500 Champion’s Breakfast at Daytona 500 Experience.

“It’s kind of sinking in,” McMurray said. “Every time we do something it’s a little more real. Whether it’s getting the jackets or the ring or just everything that’s a part of this, it’s just really, really exciting.”

Winning crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion was enjoying the surreal experience.

“Everything’s been in fast forward,” Manion said. “Pictures, media center, inspecting the car, pushing the car to the trailer to come over here and then a couple hours of sleep for some of us. It’s just been so exciting.

“(On) rain delays you stay over but winning the race and you have to stay over and have breakfast — that’s pretty cool.”

Also enjoying the festivities was co-owner Chip Ganassi, who is one of only two owners to win both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

“Jamie showed me a text from (last year’s Daytona 500 champion) Matt Kenseth where he said, ‘You’ll never want this day to end.’ I agree completely. I don’t want this day to end.

“You have a complete flashback of your entire racing career — thinking about the possibility of something like this happening. You’re always shooting for that and you’re always trying for that. It’s just so reflective right now. Every sacrifice you made and every tough meeting I’ve had with a crew chief or a driver – the ups and downs of this business. It all seems worth it now.”

McMurray, who also unveiled the logo for 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20th, is now on a whirlwind media tour making appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and Live with Regis and Kelly in New York City as well as making stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles before Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Despite his hectic upcoming schedule, McMurray knows the memory he’s going to take away from all of this.

“The thing that I’m going to remember is getting out of the car and running up and grabbing the flag and then running back down and seeing the Daytona (painted) in the infield (grass) and seeing ‘Daytona 500’. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. That’s the memory I have burned in my head right now of the 500; that’s something I’ll never forget.”

Steve McCormick, in About.com Guide commented regarding Greg Biffle, “Even the fastest car can’t drive itself.  Greg Biffle brings an impressive resume to Daytona: 1998 Truck Series Rookie of the Year, 2000 Truck Series Champion, 2001 BGN Rookie of the Year, 2002 Busch Series Champion and the winner of last July’s Daytona race.”

“Take a guy who is a proven restrictor plate winner and put him behind arguably the best engine in the sport and you’ve got a potential pole sitter. Can anyone tell me why sports writers are calling his pole winning run “shocking” and “surprising?”

“His name may not be on the tip of your tongue when you think of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stars but this pole run shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone.”

Greg Biffle who was born in December 23rd, 1969, started 7 races in 2002.  His official rookie season was 2003 and he featured a win at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona.  Jamie McMurray beat him for Rookie of the Year honors.

His more outstanding performances have been:

2000 – Craftsman Truck Series Champion.

2002 – Busch Grand National Series Champion.

2003 – Won first NEXTEL Cup Race (July Daytona)

2005 – Finished second in NEXTEL Cup points

Jack Roush picked up Greg Biffle back in the mid 90′s with the idea that with some seasoning he could be great.

Just a few years later Greg rewarded Roush Racing with it’s first NASCAR championship as Greg pushed and shoved his way to the Craftsman Truck Series title. A couple of years after that Greg again came through, this time delivering a Busch Grand National series championship.

Early in his NEXTEL Cup career Greg has proven that he can get the job done. His first victory in NASCAR’s premier division came under the lights in Daytona as Greg won the Pepsi 400 during his 2003 rookie campaign.

There are surely more championships in Greg’s future.  Those stories are still to be written but clearly he knows what it takes to win titles and he is with a top-notch team in the form of Jack Roush.

The possibility of moving from the Spanish Jerez circuit to another speedway for two of the four test days this week was suggested.  Rain forecast indicated that weather conditions would be worse this week, but an adequate replacement for Jerez could not be found on such a short notice.

When Sauber Beat Zendher, team principal, was asked about the possibility of moving to Valencia or else, to the Portimao circuit he answered: “The circuits are taken up and weather conditions are quite uncertain.”

The pilots are waiting for the option of dry driving to be able to understand the performance of the cars and to tune them up before the March 14^th Bahrain season’s opening.  Hence, time is ticking away and there are only eight test days left, four in Jerez this week and four in Barcelona, next week.

Weather conditions are particularly bad for the new teams. Virgin and Lotus have just unveiled their single-seaters this year with two cars that start up in zero during the winter.  With scarce experience, they need dry performance much more that others with more data and experience, to be able to overcome the initial problems with their new engines.  Last week, Virgin lost the best part of the day, due to the front wing failure and lack of spare parts.